Keri Wilson
DREAMS AND DESIRES
CHAPTER 5: WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN

The wedding preparation madness was in full swing for Tara Rebecca Kelly, aka Rogue, and Remy LeBeau, aka Gambit. Every day more people were asking if they could come, so more food had to be ordered, Tara was in a frenzy trying to finish up her wedding gown.

She had decided she wanted to make her own, and now regretted that decision. She had hardly had time to sew it, and nowonly had three more days. Remy had made a similar decision with his suit, he had to end up flying all the way over to Brittany, France, and have the suit custom made, in just a few days. He was flying back over there today for the fitting and to bring it back here. There were a few things he wanted to add to it himself.

Tara also had to deal with her problems with the early months of pregnancy, the worst, morning sickness. Up till a week ago, it lasted three quarters of the day. Now it was down to the first couple of hours after she got up. Thankfully, all the attendants had their clothing picked out and ready. She let her attendants pick out whatever they wanted to wear, as long as it was suitable for a formal evening wedding. Jubilee frowned a bit at that, now that she was nearly an adult and had her adult figure she wanted to show it off. Betsy seemed slightly disappointed too. She mollified them by telling they could wear whatever they wanted to the reception.

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The night of the bachelor and bachelorette parties had arrived. Tara's was in New York City, and Remy's was at Harry's Hideaway in Salem Center.

Remy smiled. He was enjoying himself thoroughly. He wasn't really looking all that forward to the stripper he just knew the guys had hired, what amused him was the other guys were, he could tell by the looks they kept giving each other. Remy had seen so much of that stuff growing up in the sleazier side of New Orleans and during his life before the X-Men that it bored him or he just felt sorry for the ladies, having to live that life. Then he saw the guys all look to the door with a funny looks on their faces. Remy grinned as he turned around, and as he saw what was coming for him his mouth dropped open in shock. Someone had dressed up in a gorilla suit, with a coconut bra and grass skirt. The guys roared with laughter, and Drake yelled over to Hank with the camcorder, "Did you get the expression on his face?" By that time though, Remy was laughing as hard as the other guys.

At the same time at Rogue's party, Jean was talking to the male striper before he went into the room. "She's very uncomfortableabout being touched, so don't touch her. We just want to seeher blushing. Now the young Asian girl in there will probably be very excited, but she's underage. Wait until I'm back in the room a few minutes before you make your entrance."

Jean came back in the room, and came over to Rogue and said, "I'm glad the bathroom is so close by, when you're in the last few month of pregnancy... In a few months you'll know what I mean." Rogue nodded. Then the door opened, and this incredibly good looking guy with long, wavy, brown hair came in. When music came on and he started taking off his clothes her mouth opened in surprise and she blushed. She blushed even more when he started grinding his hips practically right next to her. She was relieved that she had really dressed up, and was all covered except for her neck and head! She felt totally embarrassed.

She thought, this guy is really handsome but he's not Remy, he doesn't do anything for me but embarrass me. She blushed again when she tried to picture Remy doing this, she really couldn't see him doing this. She smiled, he didn't need to!

Kitty was looking at the guy very appreciatively, and said to Jean,"He's a nice one!" Jubilee was gyrating with the guy now, and Ororo shook her head and smiled. Jean, Betsy and Kitty were having fun, they were whistling and cheering the guy on. Caleen was laughing so hard she was nearly falling out of her chair.

Back at Remy's party the dancer had left and Bobby said "Time for the stag film!" He waved a VCR tape in the air. It had no label on it, so Remy couldn't tell what it was. Remy sighed, the movies were so predictable and boring, he had a lot more thrills with the real thing. They were Bobby's main form of entertainment though, that and his subscription to Playboy. If Bobby would grow up he might get a real relationship, Remy thought annoyed. Bobby Drake put the tape in and the lights were turned down a little. Then a narrator's voice said, "The Red Tail Deer of the United States is a majestic creature indeed," as a deer stag emerged from some woods. Remy's mouth dropped open in surprise again, and again Hank caught his surprise on camera, all the guys howled with laughter, even Scott, who was incredibly relieved they hadn't pulled this on him at his bachelor party. Remy though was glad they had, it made this party more fun than he thought it was going to be, but he'd still rather be with Rogue.

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"Wow! You look so beautiful Rogue, uh Tara, uh which one do you want me to call you want me to call you now?" Kitty Pryde asked as she walked into the room. The other attendants were helping Rogue getting ready for her wedding that evening.

"Whichever one yah feel more comfortable with, Kit." Rogue said smiling, as she adjusted the collar on her wedding gown. The gown was replication of a 1844 evening dress. It had the hint of "southern belle" dress without any of the extremes. It had a curved V layered collar, which stood up slightly from her upper arms, which were covered to the elbows with fitted sleeves that ended in a small lace ruffle. This just touched the long white gloves she was wearing. The white dress fit her closely to the waist. Then it flared out in soft bell, this was achieved by deep gathers, and small soft roll of fabric underneath the dress, tied just below the waist. The dress almost brushed the floor. She wore low heeled shoes, and a large, flat brimmed, small crowned hat with a long lace veil all around.

"Yeah, you really do look like a bride, Rogue."

"Ah hope so, Jubilee, since we've gone to all this trouble, wouldn't want tah look like a frog or somethin'."

This made them all laugh. Then Jubilee said, "So a `trad' southern wedding really has all these people in it?"

"Of course, yah gotta include all of your friends, yah wouldn't want tah hurt anybody's feelings." Then Rogue turned to Allison Blaire, who used to be team member Dazzler; "Ah'm glad yah could come tah be in mah weddin' Allison. Yah think Long shot's holdin' up o.k., watchin' y'all's baby?"

"I'm sure they're both fine. Thanks for inviting me, I'm happy to sing at your wedding, and I'm glad that you want my son to be your ring boy. I just hope he behaves. He's only eighteen months, so he's likely to act up."

Tara knew right now Tante Mattie and Mystique were playing the role of mother of the groom and bride. The two women were the closest thing to a real mother both felt they had. They were lighting two of the three candles where the ceremony would take place.

Tante Mattie lit the candle that Remy would pick up, and Mystique the one Tara would pick up. Tante Mattie didn't say anything, but she couldn't believe that such a sweet girl like Tara, could have been raised by such a sleazy, bad woman. Mystique had really outdone herself too, she made herself look like a forty year old tarted up woman who looked a lot like Tara. Tara had groaned when she saw Mystique, but had said nothing for fear that Mystique would then do something even worse. Magneto was there as a guest, he kept glaring at Mystique.

Caleen was there too, as a guest. Tara had originally wanted her to be the matron of honor. The two southern women had become good friends. Her talks with Caleen had done more to help Tara psychologically than anybody else ever had. Caleen though, had turned it down for spiritual reasons. As a Neo-pagan she would have felt exceedingly uncomfortable participating in a Christian wedding. Since the church had conducted centuries of campaigns of hatred, lies, terror, and violence against Jews, Muslims, Native Americans, Africans, Asians, and anyone else who was "different", including the several million European women over the centuries who dared to think themselves equal to men, be healers, and believe in the goddesses of her faith. Tara under stood, she knew the history. It was a small part of why she was an atheist, but having a priest marry them was important to Remy. This time he really wanted to do everything "right". Tara didn't mind being married by a priest, even if she didn't really believe that way herself. Besides the priest was a good friend of Kurt's, and a bit out of the ordinary himself. He saw mutancy as special gifts given people from God. Tante Mattie believed the same way. Tante Mattie's cousin Marguerite's beliefs were like Caleen's, except even more so. Marguerite said she would not even be able to come. It was a shame, because Tara had been looking forward to meeting her. Remy had told Tara a little about Marguerite. Tara knew that this woman was an important person from Remy's childhood. Nearly as important to him as Tante Mattie.

Back in the room where Tara was getting ready, Luna looked around at all these adult women talking and helping Rogue get ready. The only other children in the wedding were Galen and Joey, Longshot and Dazzler's toddler son, and sixteen year old Jubilation Lee. Luna, Pietro's and Crystal's daughter was the flower girl; Galen was the junior bridesmaid; Joey was the junior usher, and Jubilee was the maid of honor. Galen and Joey's aunt Jean Grey-Summers was the matron of honor. Kitty Pryde, Ororo Munroe,and Betsy Braddock were bridesmaids; Allison Blaire was a bridesmatron, as well as singing at the wedding.

To some people's surprise Remy had chosen Bishop to be his best man. Hank, Logan, and Warren, Piotr, Scott, and Longshot were the other groomsmen.

Lila Cheney and her band would perform at the reception, with Allison joining them.

Allison left to sing pre-processional song. Rogue watched her leave, and thought; well ah did it backwards, got pregnant before ah got married, but tonight ah'll be ah married woman, it's really gonna happen. She felt a flutter of nervousness at this, but quickly dismissed it, with thoughts about how happy she'd be to hear those words...

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. LeBeau you may kiss the bride!"

Remy pulled her into his arms, pushed the hat off, as it fell to the floor he gave her a very passionate kiss, to loud laughter and cheers, even a few whistles from their guests and attendants.

Since everyone else in the wedding was changing clothes for the reception Tara and Remy did too. Remy changed into a black tux with long tails, it looked quite romantic, Tara thought. Tara changed into a store bought wedding gown that had the same basic shape as her wedding gown, but a bit shorter, coming to just above her ankles, and it fit a bit looser. This was so she could dance with much more ease. She had teased Remy while they were changing by allowing him a few feels, but told him he'd, "have tah wait for the main event!" then blushed and giggled. Then she closed the bathroom door to reapply her light makeup, and redo her hair, which he had messed up when they kissed.

Rogue felt like she was flying, all evening, she was so happy.

It was kind of funny to hear Lila and Allison singing the song she and Remy had picked for their first song, about the most famous Cajun song ever, "Jambalaya" also called "Down on the Bayou". Lila and Allison introduced the song by the later title, their accents sounded a bit strange singing it, but they pulled it off. The other songs weren't so difficult. Later, though, when a second Cajun song came up Allison and Lila looked at each other and grinned. Then they called Tara and Remy up to sing it. It was a slow love song. Tara and Remy both laughed, but good naturedly came up and sang the song. Neither had the sort of voice that could have made a professional career, but they weren't bad either. Remy with a sort of rolling baritone, and Tara with a sweet alto. The sort of voices that would be perfect for singing lullabies to children.

When Rogue threw the bouquet Jubilee caught it. Rogue laughed and said to her smiling, "Make up for Scott and Jean's wedding?" Rogue had then cheated and flown to make sure caught the bouquet.

Jubilee, clutching the bouquet tightly, flashed a smile and said "Yeah." When the garter was thrown Logan made sure he caught it, by sticking out one of his claws, it circled downward on it as if someone had done a ring toss. This made almost everyone laugh, and Jubilee grinned broadly. Logan, somewhat nervously, put the garter on Jubilee's leg, causing several knowing smiles, which turned to laughter when Jubilee kissed Logan right on the mouth when he had the garter up to her kneecap.

Mystique planned some mischief herself, she watched Magneto get extremely drunk at the reception. The old pervert was upset that Rogue had married someone else, Mystique thought. She decided to enlist someone's help in her plan, someone who hated Magneto as much as she did, Logan. She asked him to run a little program for her in the danger room. Logan said,"Danger room, darlin?"

"Well, a girl needs to be prepared."

"Uh huh. So what are you going to do to him, or do I want to know?"

"Oh just give him what he wants, with a woman more his age." Mystique emphasized the last part. "I'll go get Magneto while you program that, you'll hear us when I get back, have the doors open by the time I get there."

"Better make sure he's good and drunk."

"Oh I will, besides, there's always this." She held up a small vial that he knew contained a powerful aphrodisiac. "Oh and be sure to lock the door after us, don't want any interruptions." She smirked. "I'll call you on the intercom when I'm done."

Mystique looked so much like Rogue at the time, and Magneto was so drunk, nature took it's course, and they were already crawling all over each other in the bedroom scene Logan programmed for Mystique, as the door closed.

Right before the last song of the evening, Allison sprang her surprise on the wedding couple. She sang a song she had written just for them. Allison had been inspired to write the song when she heard the story of how they had fallen in love the past couple of days, and of Tara's and Remy's conversations with each other. Allison had kept the song a secret from them, by never singing the words during the practice sessions, Allison pretended the music was a warm-up song, before they went through the repertoire.

At the evening's end Gambit and Rogue went back to their room at the mansion, and prepared for bed. They would do it the old fashioned way in the deep south, and have a three day wedding celebration before setting off on their honeymoon. Tomorrow would be the wedding breakfast, and the next day a send off party, they would leave after that party.

Tonight though was the wedding night, and just as Remy was pulling her into bed with him, the most horrible racket started up right outside their window. They looked at each other and groaned, "Oh no, not a shivaree!" Then Rogue said, "Someone must have found out about that little tradition, and told everyone else!" At the same time they said, "Tante Mattie!" They tried to ignore the noise which included banging metal, and as loud and off key as possible, singing. Finally after over three minutes of this Rogue put her robe back on over her sheer nightgown, and Remy put some shorts on, and they both went to the window and pushed it open. Then they leaned out and told everyone to "Shut up and go to bed!" This caused a few suggestive jokes directed their way, but then everyone yelled "good night", laughed, and then left them alone.

Rogue looked at Gambit as everyone left and said "Did you notice even Professor Xavier was there?" Then they both laughed and closed the window.

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The next morning, at the wedding breakfast, everyone heard about what Mystique had done to Magneto. Rogue just shook her head, she had no idea what her foster mother did sometimes or why. She didn't even want to think about this little incident.

Mystique woke up first and Hank and Logan let her out. They saw that Magneto was still asleep on the floor. Logan turned to Hank and said, "Told you, he'll sleep till noon, pay up!" Mystique turned around and smirked, "Do you boys bet on everything?"

Logan looked at Hank after Mystique left, and said, "Knew it would turn out that way, went a few rounds with her myself once."

Hank said, "With her? You're braver than I thought!"

Logan laughed,"Yeah, that's when Jubilee put that little dent on my bike!"

"Uh oh, I bet she was not pleased! I hope she did not see anything untoward."

"No just Mystique in her teddy stepping outside, I think. "

"Should we let the Master of Magnetism sleep it off, should we wake him up, or carry him upstairs still asleep?"

"Leave him in there."

"Yes, I do believe that is the wisest choice. Perhaps the professor should let him out." Hank said with a small grin.

Professor Xavier let Magneto out, when he finally woke up at noon. The professor apologized for what Mystique had done to him. Magneto, just grimaced and said nothing. Magneto knew that Charles Xavier had to have picked up rather quickly on what she was doing and let her get away with it. Perhaps Charles thought it was amusing. It wasn't to Magneto! He refused Tara's offer to get him something to eat. He just took off for his latest home.

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It was the evening of the last day of Tara and Remy's honeymoon. They sat by themselves on a Nova Scotia beach. They had spent the last two weeks on the island. They had toured all the sights, but especially the ones associated with Remy's ancestors, the Acadians: who were driven away by the British, at gunpoint to boats, in 1755. Remy's ancestors ended up in Louisiana, where they eventually became known as Cajuns. Rogue leaned against Remy and thought about what they had seen here, and about their own history. Similar thoughts passed through Remy's mind. Then Remy thought about the future, and he put his hand over her abdomen, which was just beginning to round, ever so slightly. "Won' be long now, m' amour, till you feel it kick."

"Bout a couple of months or so." She said and looked up at him, "ready tah go back tomorrow?"

"Yes an' no; bein' alone wit' you, chere, makes me real happy, but I do miss dem too."

"Wonder what's been goin' on while we've been gone? Hope nothin' bad happened."

"Me neither, chere. Hope they had almost as good a time as we have."

"Yeah, almost. Mmm, ah'm gettin' sleepy, let's go in now or ah'll fall asleep here on this o' beach."

"Okay cherie." He stood up and helped her up, then they walked together back to the hotel.

"Wanna start packin tonight or wait till tomorrow?" She asked. They looked at another and said, "Tomorrow!"